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More than 350 AANHPI political leaders nationwide convened in Las Vegas this past month to launch the national membership organization AAPI LEAD (Leadership Elected and AppointeD).
The three-day summit in Las Vegas was the largest gathering of AANHPI elected and appointed officials convened in US history, according to the Senate Press Office. AAPI LEAD is the first national membership organization for and by elected and appointed officials.
“[…] I want our new organization to unleash the incredible leadership potential that AAPI elected and appointed leaders represent, because we are truly stronger together,” San Francisco City Attorney and AAPI LEAD President David Chiu said. “We have much more work to do, to ensure that progress continues and that AAPIs have a seat at every table.”
Organizers of the convening included Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, US Representative Ted Lieu, and Chiu. The inaugural boards for AAPI LEAD consist of leaders from all levels of government, including local, state, and national.
Members said they hope the program provides a key missing resource for the Asian American community, The San Francisco Examiner reported.
Chiu and other members hope AAPI LEAD takes a step towards creating an institutional pipeline for the AANHPI community, according to The San Francisco Examiner.
“Other ethnic communities have been much more successful over the decades in building and sustaining political influence and power,” Chiu told The San Francisco Examiner. “We have built infrastructure in a number of different sectors. We haven’t done that when it comes to politics.”
The next convening of AAPI LEAD is set for July 23 to 25 in Atlanta, Georgia.
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